The 2024 Emmy Awards marked a historic shift in television with unprecedented wins, especially for FX’s historical drama Shōgun, which collected an astounding 18 trophies. This drama set in feudal Japan became the first non-English language show to win the award for Outstanding Drama Series. Notably, Japanese actors Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai won Emmys for their lead roles, making history as the first Japanese actors to receive awards for best lead actor and actress in a drama series. This Emmy season celebrated milestones in representation, spotlighting underrepresented communities and diverse narratives across drama, comedy, and limited series.
A Historic Win for Shōgun: A Celebration of Japanese Talent
Adapted from James Clavell’s novel, Shōgun explores the cultural and political conflicts of feudal Japan. Inspired by real events, the show is set in a world of intense power struggles, drawing from the true-life friendship between an English samurai and a Japanese ruler. The series’ groundbreaking win underscores a growing demand for more globally diverse narratives, especially in mainstream awards circuits.
Main Cast and Wins for Shōgun
- Outstanding Drama Series: Shōgun
- Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Hiroyuki Sanada as protagonist
- Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Anna Sawai as leading female role
With additional awards in directing, writing, and supporting actor categories, Shōgun showcased the excellence of Japanese storytelling in a historically Western-dominated awards arena.
Record-Breaking Wins for The Bear: Representing Comedy with Depth and Realism
FX’s The Bear also made history with 11 Emmy awards, setting a new single-season record for a comedy series. The show received significant recognition for its portrayal of life in a chaotic kitchen environment, marked by both triumph and turmoil. The Bear’s unique combination of dark humor and gritty realism resonated widely, capturing the attention of both audiences and critics alike.
Notable Wins for The Bear
- Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: Jeremy Allen White for his role as the head chef
- Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Liza Colón-Zayas as Tina
- Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series: Christopher Storer for the episode “Fishes”
Colón-Zayas’ win is particularly meaningful as she became the first Latina actress to win in her category, giving an empowering message to Latinas in the industry and audiences worldwide.
Significant Wins in Limited and Anthology Series
The limited series category also saw high-stakes competition, with Baby Reindeer emerging as the winner for Outstanding Limited/Anthology Series. This category highlights shows that push boundaries through compact storytelling, capturing moments that resonate deeply with audiences. Richard Gadd, who starred in and wrote Baby Reindeer, took home awards for his acting and writing, marking a standout moment for the series.
Standout Limited Series Awards:
- Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series: Richard Gadd for Baby Reindeer
- Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series: Steven Zaillian for Ripley
Overview of 2024 Emmy Award Acting Wins in Major Categories
The awards for outstanding performances are at the heart of Emmy celebrations. This year’s winners showcased a range of talent, with remarkable performances across drama, comedy, and limited series.
Acting Wins in Drama Series
| Category | Winner | Show |
|---|---|---|
| Lead Actor | Hiroyuki Sanada | Shōgun |
| Lead Actress | Anna Sawai | Shōgun |
| Supporting Actor | Billy Crudup | The Morning Show |
| Supporting Actress | Elizabeth Debicki | The Crown |
Acting Wins in Comedy Series
| Category | Winner | Show |
|---|---|---|
| Lead Actor | Jeremy Allen White | The Bear |
| Lead Actress | Jean Smart | Hacks |
| Supporting Actor | Ebon Moss-Bachrach | The Bear |
| Supporting Actress | Liza Colón-Zayas | The Bear |
Acting Wins in Limited Series
| Category | Winner | Show |
|---|---|---|
| Lead Actor | Richard Gadd | Baby Reindeer |
| Lead Actress | Jodie Foster | True Detective: Night Country |
| Supporting Actor | Lamorne Morris | Fargo |
| Supporting Actress | Jessica Gunning | Baby Reindeer |
Key Wins in Writing and Directing Categories
High-quality writing and directing are crucial to a show’s success. The 2024 Emmys honored many who made impactful contributions in these areas.
Writing for Drama and Comedy Series
- Writing for a Drama Series: Will Smith for Slow Horses – “Negotiating With Tigers”
- Writing for a Comedy Series: Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, Jen Statsky for Hacks – “Bulletproof”
Directing for Drama, Comedy, and Limited Series
| Category | Winner | Show |
|---|---|---|
| Directing for a Drama Series | Frederick E.O. Toye | Shōgun |
| Directing for a Comedy Series | Christopher Storer | The Bear – “Fishes” |
| Directing for a Limited Series | Steven Zaillian | Ripley |
Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion at the 2024 Emmys
This year’s Emmy Awards not only celebrated artistic excellence but also underscored the importance of representation. The inclusion of non-English series like Shōgun, diverse talents such as Liza Colón-Zayas, and stories from global cultures have shifted industry perceptions, setting a new standard for representation in media.
How to Watch the Emmy Awards
The 2024 Emmy Awards were held on September 15, 2024, hosted by Eugene Levy and Dan Levy. For those who missed the live broadcast, the Emmy Awards can be streamed on Hulu until September 22, 2024, allowing viewers to relive the highlights and speeches from this groundbreaking year.
The 2024 Emmy Awards will be remembered as a landmark event that broke barriers, championed inclusion, and celebrated the best in television from around the globe.
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